2023 MLB Predictions: Playoffs and Awards
Who will take home the hardware next fall?
We’ve made it! Opening Day is tomorrow for all 30 MLB teams after what felt like the longest offseason of all time. But before the fun begins, we have one last set of predictions to make.
Below are my predictions for the 2023 MLB postseason and end-of-season awards. I’ll pick my MVPs, Cy Youngs, Rookies of the Year, Managers of the Year, and Comeback Players of the Year.
The playoff predictions are based on my division standings predictions, which you can check out below.
AL East | AL Central | AL West | NL East | NL Central | NL West
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We’ll keep this one short and sweet. Thanks as always for reading, and enjoy Opening Day!
Playoffs
American League Wild Card Series
(6) Tampa Bay Rays vs. (3) Cleveland Guardians
Rays win in three games.
(5) New York Yankees vs. (4) Houston Astros
Astros win in two games.
American League Division Series
(6) Tampa Bay Rays vs. (2) Toronto Blue Jays
Blue Jays win in four games.
(4) Houston Astros vs. (1) Seattle Mariners
Mariners win in five games.
American League Championship Series
(2) Toronto Blue Jays vs. (1) Seattle Mariners
Blue Jays win in seven games.
National League Wild Card Series
(6) Philadelphia Phillies vs. (3) St. Louis Cardinals
Cardinals win in three games.
(5) Los Angeles Dodgers vs. (4) New York Mets
Mets win in two games.
National League Division Series
(3) St. Louis Cardinals vs. (2) San Diego Padres
Padres win in three games.
(4) New York Mets vs. (1) Atlanta Braves
Braves win in five games.
National League Championship Series
(2) San Diego Padres vs. (1) Atlanta Braves
Braves win in six games.
World Series
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Atlanta Braves
Braves win in six games. Michael Harris II wins World Series MVP.
Awards
AL MVP - Julio Rodriguez, OF, Seattle Mariners
Last year was only a preview of the J-Rod Show. The 2022 AL Rookie of the Year will reach another level to lead the Mariners to the top of the AL West and take home his first of what should be multiple MVP awards in his career.
NL MVP - Trea Turner, SS, Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies’ $300 million investment in Turner will pay major dividends in 2023. After starring for the USA at the World Baseball Classic, Turner will showcase his unique blend of power and speed in what will be the best all-around season of his illustrious career thus far.
AL Cy Young - Alek Manoah, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
It feels like a matter of when, not if, Manoah will win a Cy Young. The Blue Jays ace placed third in the voting last season and even earned some MVP votes. He’ll be even better in 2023 to lead Toronto to an AL East title and later, a World Series berth.
NL Cy Young - Zac Gallen, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks
Yep, I’m sticking with my bold prediction here which in hindsight probably isn’t all that bold. Gallen finished fifth in Cy Young voting last year and ninth after the abbreviated 2020 season. He’s the underrated ace of the D’backs staff who led the NL in WHIP (0.913) and the majors in hits allowed per nine innings (5.9) in 2022. If he takes another step forward in 2023, which I believe he will for what should be an improved Arizona club, he’ll undoubtedly be a Cy Young finalist.
AL Rookie of the Year - Anthony Volpe, SS, New York Yankees
Volpe, the No. 5 ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline, made the Yankees’ Opening Day roster after a spectacular spring training. New York hopes he’ll be the new face of the franchise alongside slugger Aaron Judge. There could be some growing pains to start the year — he only played 22 games at Triple-A — but everything we’ve seen from him so far shows he could live up to the hype. It’ll be a fun AL ROTY race between Volpe, Gunnar Henderson, Triston Casas, Masataka Yoshida, and Hunter Brown.
NL Rookie of the Year - Corbin Carroll, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
Anyone who has read this website over the last couple of months should know I am EXTREMELY high on Corbin Carroll. The No. 2 prospect in baseball pairs blazing speed on the basepaths with serious pop at the plate. He debuted with the D’backs last season and quickly adjusted to big-league pitching. I wouldn’t even be surprised to see Carroll get some MVP votes.
AL Manager of the Year - Scott Servais, Seattle Mariners
If the Mariners dethrone the Astros and win the AL West, as I predict they will, Servais will be a no-brainer for this award.
NL Manager of the Year - Torey Lovullo, Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks are my 2023 sleeper team. If they post a winning record and flirt with playoff contention, I like Lovullo’s chances.
AL Comeback Player of the Year - Anthony Rendon, 3B, Los Angeles Angels
Rendon has been plagued by injuries over the last two seasons. He played in only 58 games in 2021 and 47 in 2022. Judging by his strong spring, Rendon is healthy and ready to return to All-Star form. If he comes anywhere close to his Washington Nationals production, he’ll run away with this award. Look out for Red Sox southpaw Chris Sale too.
NL Comeback Player of the Year - Fernando Tatis Jr., OF, San Diego Padres
I’m not sure whether voters will have much sympathy for Tatis, who missed a good chunk of last season and will miss part of 2023 due to his PED suspension. But if the PED issue isn’t held against him, I don’t see how anyone else will be picked. Tatis is a superstar, PEDs or no PEDs, and he’ll quickly remind everyone with a comeback season that may even result in an MVP award. If voters hold the roids against Tatis, Ronald Acuña Jr. is my second pick.
*What are your 2023 MLB predictions? Let me know in the comments.